Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ebay first put down roots in Ireland in 2003 with 25 staff.

4 o’clock

In April 2013, it opened its international operations centre in Dundalk, which was a massive boost for the area. At the time, the president of PayPal, Mr. David Marcus, described the company's relationship with Ireland as an everlasting honeymoon and the Dundalk facility as being the heart of eBay. I hope the Minister will today confirm that this still is so and that it wishes to remain there. The company had plans to grow to 450 staff in Dundalk at the time. We are all aware of the division of eBay and PayPal. We are appreciative of the value that this leading company, PayPal, has been to Dundalk and the surrounding districts of Drogheda, Newry and Dublin. I am advised that the company wishes to utilise the space currently being occupied by the eBay side of the business and, hopefully, this will result in additional employment at PayPal.

I believe that eBay has viewed properties in the area that are suitable for its operation and I have confirmation of that from leading auctioneers. There is a strong belief in the area that, although such accommodation is available in the Dundalk and Drogheda area, eBay has been induced by State institutions, with no doubt a little political coaxing, to consider places such as Sligo and Castlebar as options, and perhaps I should throw Athlone into the mix also. Regrettably, I cannot seem to get confirmation to the contrary from any company or State body to confirm or deny this rumour. Nor can I get such confirmation from some of my colleagues in this House who may well be better informed than other Deputies at this stage. A constituency colleague in the Government from my local town has caused alarm by admitting to the media that he has known about this for more than eight weeks, as has the Minister. Will the Minister assure this House that IDA Ireland and its senior management have not used a range of methods such as grants, employment incentives, credits and discounts to move eBay from its present location to another area of the country?

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